The
village of Kegaska is located at the western entrance of the Lower
North Shore, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) past the end of the
road in Natashquan. Kegaska was built along the shore of two bays
and an island connected by bridge. The name Kegaska comes from the
Innu word quegasca. This may refer to the shortcut and easy passage
at high tide between the mainland and the islands.

Archaeological
artifacts attest to early Aboriginal presence in the area. In 1831,
the Hudson’s Bay Company held a salmon-fishing and trading
post at the mouth of the Kegaska River. In the early 1850s, Acadian
families from the Magdelen Islands settled in Kegaska. They left
in the 1870s, possible due to a diphtheria epidemic. In 1855, English-speaking
settler Samuel Foreman arrived from Nova Scotia. He was joined by
a number of Newfoundland families, who later moved away. Today’s
families mostly descend from English-speaking families who arrived
from Anticosti in the late 19th century. While the community once
depended on cod, crab is presently the main catch.

Kegaska in the summer

Kegaska in the winter

WHAT TO SEE

The Brion shipwreck: See the
remains of the wreckage of a cargo ship from the Magdelen Islands
that struck a shoal near the village in 1976.

St. Philip’s Anglican Church:
This village church is open to visitors.

Foreman’s Saw Mill:
Remains of this historic sawmill which once provided the lumber
that built most of the village are still standing.

Brion trail: This
trail takes you to the remains of the Brion - a cargo ship that
sunk near Kegaska in 1976. The walking path passes through the
village and to prime picnic areas. You can observe bird and marine
life from the trail.

Sandy beaches:
Just in front of the village, beautiful sandy beaches provide
additional opportunities to walk, dig clams, and watch for birds
and whales.